The Refreshing Jack Daniel's Cocktail You Only Need 3 Ingredients For

If you enjoy the flavors of whiskey, you might drink it two ways: neat or on the rocks. But for a more robust, well-rounded flavor, you can incorporate it into a cocktail, as long as what you're pairing it with matches those iconic Jack Daniel's flavors. For a quick, three ingredient cocktail, try combining Jack Daniel's with apple juice and ginger liqueur.

Whiskey's flavor can range depending on how it's made. Jack Daniel's No. 7, which is the whiskey recommended for this cocktail (though Chowhound admittedly thinks other kinds of Jack Daniel's are better), has notes of vanilla, oak, and dried fruit, plus a subtle sweetness. It pairs well with the sweetness of apple juice and the bite of a ginger liqueur, both of which contrast each other nicely for a well-balanced drink. For less bite and more sweet, you can also swap the liqueur for classic ginger ale, which is a surprisingly strong addition to a number of cocktails. Besides boosting the sweetness, the soda swap will add some fizz to the drink for a different mouthfeel. The drink is served over ice, and it's swirled, not shaken or stirred, then finally comes together with a dusting of cinnamon for a hint of spice. Garnish it with apple slices for a nice visual.

Not all whiskies are created equally, so depending on your desired flavor or intensity, you can switch out another whiskey in this drink. For something a little lighter, try the Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select, which is only 94 proof, with hints of caramel, fruit, and aromatics. In an r/WhiskeyTribe Reddit thread, one user suggested this variety of Jack Daniel's if you're someone who doesn't drink whiskey too often and doesn't want something overpowering. Plus, it's not the most expensive Jack Daniel's, meaning it's a good one to blend with other flavors rather than one you'd buy to sip on its own.

Finally, if you're not typically a rye whiskey drinker, you might want to test the waters with Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye. It topped the ranking of Chowhound's favorite bottles of Jack Daniel's. Rye is slightly different from whiskey in that it is made from rye mash instead of corn mash, giving it an even bolder flavor with slightly spicier, almost-citrusy notes. For that reason, it would pair nicely with flavors like ginger and apples.